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F.I.R.E. Etiquette

F.I.R.E. Etiquette

No matter what tradition there are always a few rules of etiquette that every participant should observe. These guidelines will help the energy within the circle to flow more freely and allow each participant to receive the full benefit of the experience.

Ours is not a religion of many “rules”, but for us to be free of inhibitions and for us to create a space of safety and comfort, everyone needs to know and agree to abide by the following general policies:

Our circles are not for the passive observer. Each person within the circle is expected to remain fully present and active throughout the duration of the ceremony. If you’re not prepared to focus and contribute your attention and efforts to the ceremony, you may observe from outside of the circle perimeter.

A circle is a religious rite where all participants should conduct themselves in a respectful manner.

Photographs are not permitted without written authorization. We have assigned a volunteer to this task. Please, so not take any photos of the ritual or people in attendance unless you have been given written authorization. This may not apply to your own friends in attendance, before or after the service. Please be mindful of who you capture in personal photos, especially if you plan to post them on social media. Many of our patrons remain “in the closet”, for lack of a better term, and wish to keep their identity concealed in relation to our events and gatherings. While we are working to dissolve the many negative stigmas associated with Earth-Based faiths, many can still lose their jobs or worse by being revealed via photographs. If you would like a copy of a photograph taken during the event, please see our Historian for this image.

Please refrain from inappropriate talking, joking, laughing, etc. during ceremonies. F.I.R.E. ceremonies are not necessarily solemn, but they are serious in their central purpose. Inappropriate behavior is rude and disrespectful of the deities, the leader trinity and to the participants who want to receive the full benefit of the ceremony.

Do NOT touch someone else’s tools, altar items, etc.without expressed permission. Many times, our participant will bring items to lay on one of the many altars; this does not give anyone permission (except for the trinity of leaders) to touch or move these objects. Since traditional lore teaches that consecrated objects easily absorb energy (they become “charged”), do not touch anyone’s tools, such as a wand, chalice, athame, jewelry, drum and another ritual regalia, without the owner’s express permission.

Once the circle is cast, we will loosely seal it. If you must leave the circle for any reason (hopefully only in an emergency) you must counter-clockwise making your way to the guardian. The Guardian will help you exit the circle peacefully and respectfully.

Anyone who is inebriated in any way does not belong in our circle. If at any time you are deemed inebriated, you will be asked to leave the property. If you have been asked more than twice to leave due to intoxication of any kind you will be banned from any future events held by F.I.R.E. It is important to exercise respect to the Gods, nature, fellow participants, and most importantly to yourself when participating in an F.I.R.E.

Please, no smoking within the circle.

Spoutwood is a ZERO Waste Facility. Please recycle what can be recycled, compost what can be composted, and take with you any trash items that cannot be recycled or composted. This includes any items used in our rituals and ceremonies.

Please keep a close eye on the “Wee Ones”. This is a big one, PLEASE READ closely. Most of our events, rituals, circles are FAMILY FRIENDLY. This means your children are WELCOME. We want to create a pleasant and welcoming environment for all families. Parents, please remember that Spoutwood is a semi-wild There are many places to explore and if not properly attended children may get lost or worse, they could get HURT. Please keep a close eye on your little ones while they are near and in the ritual area. Just as adults are not allowed to touch the altar items or other people’s tools, children are not allowed. At almost every gathering there will be some sort of open flame, either from candles or open fires, please keep kids keep them away from open flames. Parents, please DO NOT expect others to “watch after” or “parent” your kids. In short, please keep a VERY close eye on your little ones. You are responsible for their actions and whereabouts. If they happen to cause any damage you might be held responsible.

No Nudity. Please note that all our events are family friendly. To remain in compliance with the rules of the farm and with our family friendly atmosphere we do not condone the removal of clothing for ritual or otherwise.

By observing these few, simple, common-sense, but essential, guidelines, together we will create a safe and welcoming environment everyone can share and enjoy.

F.I.R.E. Event Cancellation Policy

The Fellowship of Interconnected Religious Equality (F.I.R.E.) reserves the right to cancel an event due to low participation or other circumstances which would make the event non-viable or unsafe to attend.

Weather causes us the most concern as many of our events are held outdoors within Nature. We will cancel an event for safety reasons including but not limited to the following circumstances:

Unsafe parking or pathway conditions

Heavy rain and/or winds

If there is a risk of lightning, flooding, etc.

Other unforeseen circumstances

Please remember that FIRE holds most if its events outside at Spoutwood Farm which is a semi-wild location. Mother Nature will determine our ability to hold outdoor events at this location. The walkways and parking areas at Spoutwood are unpaved and the safety of these areas is subject to recent and current weather conditions. If there has been significant rainfall or high winds, unsafe conditions will occur and we will have no choice but to cancel an event.